Reserves held by Walsall
Coventry City had to play the last half hour with ten men as they battled to a 1-1 draw against Walsall at the Lamb.
The Sky Blues took an early lead through striker Robbie Simpson but Ian Roper levelled just after the break, before substitute Jermaine Grandison limped off after City had already made their three changes at half-time.
Steve Ogrizovic's side had beaten Stoke at home in their last game of 2007 and the reserve team boss was able to field a strong side.
Kevin Kyle and Simpson started upfront with a strong midfield which included Chris Birchall, back and fit again from a loan at St Mirren, Kevin Thornton, Andy Gooding and Donovan Simmonds.
Walsall boss Eric McManus included former Sky Blue Paul Hall in a strong Saddlers side which contained Gambian trialist Yankuba Ceesay.
Simpson got the Sky Blues off to a dream start when Simpson slotted home from 12-yards after latching onto a flick from Birchall.
Birchall then curled a free-kick into the arms of Saddlers keeper Bertrand Bossu before another set-piece from the former Port Vale man was pushed away.
With Robert Page and Liam Francis superb at the back, Walsall found chances hard to come by, with their best effort seeing keeper Danny Ireland smother the ball at the feet of David McDermott.
Birchall felt his hamstrings tighten in the first period and was replaced at the break, as was Kevin Thornton, who was taken off with Saturday's derby trip to Leicester in mind.
Simmonds also failed to shake off a heavy knock on his ankle in the first-half as he lasted three minutes of the second period before Ashley Cain had to be introduced.
In the 57th minute and out of nothing, Walsall drew level. The ball fell loose in a packed penalty area and defender Roper, a City supporter, reacted first to drive the ball low into the net from 14-yards.
Two minutes later, sub Grandison was left in a heap after an innocuous tackle and after treatment on his right ankle, he was deemed not fit enough to continue, leaving the Sky Blues with ten men.
Boss Ogrizovic moved quickly to reshuffle his pack and his call for every player to up their work rate was taken to heart.
Walsall did press but found a rejigged Sky Blues back-line in no mood to let them gain any advantage.
And City almost nicked the points for themselves deep in stoppage time, but a superb late tackle denied midfielder Gooding as he raced through on goal.
Walsall: Bossu, Taundry, Boertein, C Davies (R Davies 72), Smith, Roper, Brittain (Jones 72), Hannah, Hall, McDermott, Ceesay (Silver 46). Subs (Not Used): Ravenhill, Wilkes.
Goals: Roper (57)
Booked: Ceesay, Boertein
Coventry City: Ireland, Hildreth, Page, Francis, Davis, Birchall (Grandison 46, inj 59), Gooding, Thornton (Burgess 46), Simmonds (Cain 48), Simpson, Kyle. Subs (Not Used): Collett, Ritchie
Goals: Simpson (3)
Booked: Kyle, Burgess
